Can-feeder for runways.



P. W. SGHUBERT.

CAN FEEDER FOR RUNWAYS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC 23, 1910 Patented July 25, 1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL W. SCHUBERT, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CAN-FEEDER FOR RUNWAYS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL IV. SCHUBERT, a citizen of the United States,and resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of\Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Feeders for Runways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in can feeding devices forrunways of such machines as can labelers and others in which the cansare caused to run in succession down a runway in order to present themsingly to labeling devices or other mechanisms which are to act thereon.

The object of my invention is to facilitate the transfer of cans fromtrays or boxes to the runways of such a machine.

My invention comprises the novel parts and combination of parts whichwill be hereinafter particularly defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention embodied in asimple type of apparatus, and yet of a form which is now preferred byme.

Figure 1 is a plan View of my device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3is an end elevation.

There are numerous types of apparatus used in canning establishments orplants where cans are used to hold a commercial product in which thecans are presented to the operating parts by rolling down a runwaythereto. My invention relates to means by which these cans may bequickly and accurately transferred from boxes or crates to the runway.It has heretofore been the custom in many places to transfer the cansfrom the crates or trays to the runway by hand, the party doing thispicking up two or more cans at each time with each hand. This process isslow and requires considerable expenditure for labor as well as oftenslowing down the operation of the machine by reason of the inability tosupply it with cans with sufficient rapidity.

The device which is herein shown enables a full tray or crate of cans tobe placed in position for the runway at a single operation. Thismechanism consists of the following parts: A supporting frame 1 has atable or tray 2, hinged thereto by hinges 10, the axis of these hingesbeing preferably located upon the long side of the tray, a shortdistance from one corner, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. The tray 2, inits normal position Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 28, 1910.

Patented July 25, 1911.

Serial No. 599,758.

Within this tray is ed, when the tray is in its normal position,

to register with the runwayfi fso that cans placed upon the track 22,will run down the same and be directed into place upon the runway. Thelarger part of the outer face of the tray 2 is open. At the end next tothe runway a portion thereof is covered by a plate 24, which ispreferably of sheet metal and has its outer edge slightly bent outwardto better insure guiding the cans into place in the runway. This curvededge is indicated in Fig. 1. This same section has an inclined top wall23, which at the end from which the cans emerge, is at a distance fromthe inclined track 22, to correspond with that of the top 30 of therunway section 3. The tray or table 2, by reason of the hinges 10, maybe swung from the vertical position shown in the drawings, to a positionwhich is substantially horizontal, or into contact with the stop blocks11. Normally, it will be in a position shown in the drawings. When inthis position a tray or crate of cans, in which the cans are only onelayer deep, is placed upon the trackway 22, with the side of the traydownward and the open top of the tray facing toward the back 20 of thehinged tray 2. In this condition the tray 2 is thrown backward and intoa horizontal position, or until it contacts with the stops 11. When inthis position the transfer tray or crate is bottom-side up and may beeasily lifted off of the cans, which is done. This leaves the cans inthe hinged tray 2 standing upon their ends. This tray is then swungupward into the vertical position, whereupon the cans roll downward intothe section covered by the plate 24 and are guided into the runway 3. Inthis manner the transfer of a tray of cans to the runway is a very shortand simple operation. In practical use it has been found that theservices of one man for transferring these cans is entirely dispensedwith, and in addition to this it is possible to speed the labelingmachine up so as to obtain approximately a 50% larger output from thesame machine. The section 3 of the runway, which is covered, is shown ashaving top bars 30, which are slightly converging relative to the bottombars, toward the discharge end, and communicates with the runway 31 ofthe labeling machine.

hat 1 claim as my invention is:

1. A can feeder for runways comprising a tray-holder hinged to swinginto a horizontal or vertical position and having a can-dischargingopening at one end, and a side which is inclined toward the dischargeopening when this side is down.

2. A can feeder for runways comprising a tray-holder hinged to swinginto horizontal and vertical positions, having one of its larger sides,in the main open, and a smaller side inclined toward the discharge endwhen this side is down, said discharge end being inclosed and with theside opposite said inclined side converging thereto and provided with adischarge opening between said sides.

3. A can feeding device for runways comprising a stand or support, areceiver for a tray or box of cans, hinged to the corner of the support,the hinge being located upon the receiver inward from the cornerthereof, whereby the receiver may be swung into either a vertical orhorizontal position and the sides of the support or stand will act asstops limiting the swing of the receiver.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature at Seattle,Washington, this 22nd day of December, 1910.

P. 7. SCHUBERT.

Vitnesses H. L. REYNOLDS, CHARLES H. KREGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

